WANT TO DUNK MY HEAD IN BUTTERCREAM! HELP - PULL ME OUT!

Hi everyone, well I'm a little nervous - ok let me be honest - I'm pretty nervous about 2 cakes that need to be done on Saturday and I just found out today.

1st off let me explain the situation. I'm still a beginner even though I've been decorating for 8 months - I've only had the experience of 6 paid cakes and 4 of them were for family so needless to say I'm starting slowly and like to have extra time to prepare as I'm still trying new ideas and techniques.

Well a week and a half ago a co-worker who knows I do cakes says she wanted to get some quotes for her neice and nephew double birthday party, but she didn't know if the party would be on Aug. 13th or August 20th. My boyfriend and I are in the process of moving into a new house and our move in date is August 18th so I told her if the party was on the 20th I wouldn't be able to do it since we'll just be getting into our new place.

Long story short I gave her quotes for a double themed - Ninja Turtle/Disney Princess cakes and gave her 4 options. Well she never got back to me so with relief I was actually glad because I've got enough going on with moving soon. Then today she comes up to me and says oh by the way my sister decided to have the party on the 13th and we decided on separate 10 square themed cakes and she asked if I wanted the check now or later.

She made out a check and told me what flavors she needed. I'm sure this is not a big deal to more experienced cake makers, but I consider myself still new and 2 cakes with a 5 day notice has got me really freaked out!!!!! But that's not the worst part - the worst part is that 2 weeks ago when she asked me about this I had in mind trying my 1st BCT's of Ninja Turtle and one of Disney Princess. And I still would really like to do the BCT's even though this will be my 1st.

I'm on limited time for practicing. I've ready up on the techniques but I would not feel comfortable without at least practicing each once. I know to make sure the icing is thin, but I don't have a piece of plexiglass on hand - is this something I really need or can I use something else that's flat? Also where can I find some good easy pics to trace? I'm just going to start searching on the net - but if anyone knows where specifically I can find some good ones it would be really helpful!

So 4 questions I need answers.

#1 Are BCT's really that easy for a beginner to pull this kind of job off? Or should I be looking at doing something else?

#2 Does anyone know where I can find these pics for me to trace?

#3 How do I get corners on square cakes really sharp and smooth???? I've heard there are tricks to it - if I can't get it really sharp and smooth is there anything I can do to cover up the corners???

#4 Is there anything else I can place the cakes in for her to transport rather than have to buy the boxes that are $2.50 a box at Michaels which they end up just throwing away anyway? Because if I buy the boxes then I'm out $5.00 profit.

I'm trying to embrace this as an opportunity rather than distress. AND next time I will make sure to finsih up my order forms that state the time I need to prepare so I won't have myself in this situation again. Also I charged her $50 for 2 10 inch themed square cakes. Is that fair? With the short notice and the stress I should have charged her more, but I gave her what I quoted her for 2 weeks ago. Thanks to everyone - This site is so important to us cake decoraters sanity when we run into situations like these - I don't know what I'd do without this site!

I can only offer help on #1 & #2. Yes, I think BCTs are fairly easy to learn. My main mistake when I first tried one was to not allow it to freeze long enough before I tried to place it on the cake. When I followed the directions, I had success. They can be time consuming when you do a very detailed design but as long as you have lots of small tips it won't be too bad. DON'T forget to reverse your image if it matters!!

Are you doing just one princess and one ninja turtle? If that is the case then I don't think it will be too bad. The larger you can make the picture, the easier the details are. If you try to make several on one cake and they are small I think it will be a lot hard. At least that is what I found.

There are tons of free coloring pages on the internet. Disney.com just might have the princess one you want. If you let us know which you need, I bet someone can find pics for you for both cakes.

I haven't bought the plexi glass yet and do think it will be easier but I just use my cutting board or a flat cookie pan. The only thing you will have to do it make sure you lift your BCT up and see any areas that need more icing or need to be smoothed out before you freeze it. You can fix it after it is on the cake and the Buttercream crusts but I try really hard to do all that before I freeze it.

I am still learning about the selling part too so I feel your pain there. Others here I am sure can help you with that.

I usually go to a "Pack and Mail" here and get cardboard boxes to fit the cakes--they are cheaper than bakery boxes. I have also, in a pinch, gone to a grocery store with a bakery and they have let me purchase a few boxes. That was "way" cheaper than Michael's. The store was Super 1 Foods. HTH

I have only done one BCT, it's in my photos, and I loved it! My icing wasn't quite thin enough, but that really only made it slightly harder on me, I don't think it effected the outcome much. I didn't have plexiglass, I just taped the pattern and wax paper to a cake board.

I buy the cardboard cake boxes from my local cake supply store, I don't know if you have one where you are, but I get them for CHEAP (a 10x10x5 for $0.55)

Yes I just need one picture each - I was thinking a face pic of a Ninja Turtle and I figured the larger it was the easier it might be - but not tooo big. Just enough to put on a 10 inch square cake with room to write Happy 3rd Birthday - the same with the Disney Princess - I figured I could find just one pic of the full Princess in her dress or something simple like that and again to fit on a 10inch cake with some writing.

Here are some web sites that I use for my transfers. www.coloringbookfun.com, http://members.fortunecity.com/colorbook/thelist.htm and if all else fails search for Ninja Turtles Coloring pages on google. I get the best images from them. Well that is only my opinion. There are some great coloring pages sites out there. I hope that helps out. Good Luck!

Like Mac suggested, using shipping boxes is a good alternative to cake boxes. You can use new or used shipping boxes, just make sure to line a used box with a clean towel or piece of parchment paper.

As for the sharp corners on square cakes, a lot of that depends on whether your cake pan has sharp or rounded corners. It's kind of hard to get sharp corners on a cake with rounded corners without having a build-up of icing on each corner. Most of my pans have rounded corners, so when I want to give the illusion of a sharper corner, I'll pipe a row vertical shells down the corner. I do that before piping the top and bottom borders, then I pipe the borders right over where the vertical shells meet the top and bottom. (does that make sense? )

BCTs are pretty easy, and like most everyone else has said, they are definately easier when they are bigger. Coloring pages are the best place to look for most BCTs patterns. I don't have plexiglass either. When I do a BCT, I tape the wax paper to an extra cake board. That gives me a flat and fairly sturdy surface to work on. Plexiglass is recommended b/c that makes it easier to catch any areas you might need to touch-up before freezing/refrigerating.

My grandmother-in-law lives in Lee's Summit off of 50 Hwy. Anyway, I have been decorating for about a year and just tried my first bct about a month ago. I didn't have plexiglass either. I just used a cookie sheet. Like you, I was aprehensive but was very pleased with the results. So, I say go for it! Good luck. Post pictures if you can.

okay, breath..... now, fbt are very easy to do, even for us beginners. i always go to google image and type in what ever i am looking for, usually i have a few good choices. i found a box supply company and bought in bulk my boxes, but other than that or going to cake supply store, you almost need to go to micheals or something to get boxes...it just makes your cakes look more profesional, even if it cuts into profits. also, you can do a btc and keep it in the freezer for a long time, i would make my btc now, keep them covered in the freezer until it got closer to time to finish cake. otherwise, your way to stressed trying to do those and the cakes.one more thing, you dont have to use plexiglass. i use my cutting board, or cut a piece of thick cardboard and tape wax paper over my picture.you can do this.relax and enjoy the experiencemelody

I'm confused - I'm looking for Disney Princess and it comes up with all of the princessess - snow white - cinderella - so this Disney Princess isn't just one? Is it a collection of any/all of the princess's and I just need to choose one? I'm so confused now - I went looking at ivyjoy.com and haven't found what I'm looking for yet.

Oh holy cow! I just saw all the replies after I posted that last message - I hadn't updated my forum yet and wow - thanks so much for everyone responding and helping out!!!!!!!!!! I'll let you know what I decide to choose! I'm going digging now!

My grandmother-in-law lives in Lee's Summit off of 50 Hwy. Anyway, I have been decorating for about a year and just tried my first bct about a month ago. I didn't have plexiglass either. I just used a cookie sheet. Like you, I was aprehensive but was very pleased with the results. So, I say go for it! Good luck. Post pictures if you can.

Oh wow that's cool - small world huh? I am a 911 Communications Specialist for the Lee's Summit Fire Dept. so if your in-law needs to call 911 - she'll get me! LOL. I will post pics after they are delivered - thanks for the interest!

okay, breath..... now, fbt are very easy to do, relax and enjoy the experiencemelody

Thanks so much Melody! I am trying to embrace the new experience - I've been wanting to try FBCT for awhile now but have never needed to. I'm feeling more confident thanks to everyone here who has posted and helped. I will post pics afterwards. Your words are very encouraging - thank you.

Hey there PureShugga, there is a cake supply/bakery store in Blue Springs. It's called The Cake Pan. She will sell you boxes. Very nice people!! Lately the Hobby Lobby's around here and some Michaels have been VERY low on boxes!! Anyway, hang in there. You will do fine especially with all of the great advice all of these wonderful people have given you!!

WHY WOULD YOU LOSE A $5.00 PROFIT? DO WHAT I DO AND INCORPORATE THE COST OF THE BOX IN WITH THE PRICE OF THE CAKE. FIGURE OUT THE PRICE OF THE CAKE AND THEN ADD THE AMOUNT IT WOULD COST TO BUY A BOX AND BOARD. THAT IS ALL!